Final answer:
Staphylococcus aureus can grow on a variety of agar plates but is often cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar to differentiate it from other staphylococci, Blood Agar to observe hemolysis, and Tryptic Soy Agar for general cultivation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Staphylococcus aureus can grow on several different types of agar plates. However, to identify and differentiate this bacterium, a Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) plate is typically used. This type of medium is selective for staphylococci due to its high salt concentration, which inhibits the growth of most other bacteria. S. aureus is distinctive on MSA because it ferments mannitol, resulting in an acid production that changes the color of the phenol red pH indicator in the agar to yellow.
Another common medium for culturing S. aureus is Blood Agar, which is a nutritious medium that supports the growth of many types of bacteria, including those that can lyse red blood cells, revealing clear zones of hemolysis around colonies. Lastly, Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) is a general-purpose medium that supports the growth of a wide range of bacteria, including S. aureus, as well as other Staphylococcus species and Gram-negative bacteria.